"I don't even know who I will be facing. The friend who sprained his ankle on the mound?"
Clayton Kershaw (37) of the Los Angeles Dodgers was asked about rookie Jacob Misiorowski (23, Milwaukee Brewers) during an interview with local media including SportsNet LA regarding All-Star selections on the 8th (Korea time). The two pitchers were set to start against each other on the 9th.
Kershaw responded, "I don't even know who I will be facing. Is (Misiorowski) the friend who sprained his ankle on the mound? I know his velocity is fast. I saw a few highlights, and he is indeed fast. But these days, every pitcher is like that, except for me," finishing his answer with self-deprecating humor and not considering Misiorowski a big deal.
Misiorowski made a strong debut on the 13th of last month against the St. Louis Cardinals, throwing a fastball at a maximum speed of 102.2 mph (164.5 km) and achieving a no-hitter over five innings. He sprained his ankle while taking a step back after pitching to lead-off batter Victor Scott II in the sixth inning, which led to him being substituted due to calf cramps and became a topic of discussion. Kershaw recalled that moment while mentioning Misiorowski.
However, Misiorowski made a significant impression right in front of Kershaw. In a home game against the Dodgers held at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 9th, he pitched six innings, allowing four hits (one homer), one walk, with 12 strikeouts and one earned run, leading Milwaukee to a 3-1 victory.
Starting from the first inning, he allowed a lead-off home run to Shohei Ohtani with a curveball, but then struck out Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Andy Pages in succession to finish the first inning. He overwhelmed the Dodgers lineup with a staggering 12 strikeouts through five innings and showed stable crisis management skills by escaping a jam in the sixth inning with runners on first and second base without allowing a run.
He threw a total of 91 pitches, with a maximum speed of 101.6 mph (163.5 km) and an average of 99.7 mph (160.5 km) focusing on 42 four-seam fastballs, 24 sliders, 19 curves, and 6 changeups. His slider also peaked at 97.4 mph (156.8 km). He induced an impressive 21 swing-and-misses, demonstrating strong power on his pitches, with good movement on his off-speed pitches. Out of the 13 strikeouts, three were on four-seam fastballs, while curves accounted for the majority with seven. There was also one each from the slider and changeup. Misiorowski, achieving his fourth win of the season (one loss), lowered his earned run average from 3.20 to 2.81. He recorded 33 strikeouts over 25⅔ innings in five games, averaging 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings.
Kershaw also delivered a quality start with six innings, allowing six hits, one walk, one hit batter, three strikeouts, and two earned runs, but the Dodgers lineup was stymied by Misiorowski, resulting in a 1-3 loss, marking their first defeat of the season. In a post-game interview, Kershaw was the first to mention Misiorowski's name.
He acknowledged, "Now I know Misiorowski. He was really impressive. He was special in every way, unbelievably so. His fastball velocity was exceptional, and he had great control over all four pitches. I was wondering how to hit that."
Dave Roberts, manager of the Dodgers, who suffered a five-game losing streak, noted, "It's difficult to find the positives when facing the opposing starter and getting 12 strikeouts. That's how great Misiorowski was. I saw him for the first time today, and his fastball was special, with excellent control. He disrupted the timing of the batters with his curve, cutter, and slider. It was a day when the opposing pitcher was just too good." Ohtani, who hit a home run off Misiorowski, commented, "His stuff was really good. He attacked the zone aggressively, and his command and control were really impressive."
Misiorowski said, "It's really an honor to face a player like Kershaw, who has received all the respect in the world. 3,000 strikeouts is truly amazing," and added, "I saw online that Kershaw said he didn’t know me. I hope he knows me now. It’s really a wonderful thing."
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